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Rock Connections

Think you know everything about the Stones, Madonna and other rock legends? After taking Peter Lauria’s fiendish quiz on the surprising connections between famous bands, you may be surprised.

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1.)B. James Brown co-starred alongside Marilyn Manson in the 2002 short film Beat the Devil.

Sylvan Mueller / AP Photo
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2.)C. The Beastie Boys served as the opening act for Madonna’s 1985 “Like a Virgin” tour.

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3.)A. In his last live performance, John Lennon joined Elton John at Madison Square Garden for three songs, including, "I Saw Her Standing There."

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4.)B. Gene Simmons of Kiss discovered Van Halen in a Los Angeles bar.

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5.)D. Janet Jackson covered the Joni Mitchell song, “The Beat of Black Wings,” for an unreleased tribute album called A Case of Joni.

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6.)C. Slash of Guns N’ Roses was cast as an uncredited extra on Sid & Nancy, the biopic of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious.

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7.)C. Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones joined The Beatles during a live performance of “All You Need is Love” on television’s first worldwide live broadcast, Our World, in 1967.

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8.)A. Prince played keyboard as an uncredited performer on Stevie Nicks’ 1983 hit single “Stand Back.”

Chris O'Meara / AP Photo
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9.)D. Kelly Clarkson has not worked with Jack White—yet.

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10.)A. Keith Moon and John Entwistle of The Who inadvertently conceived the band name Led Zeppelin after their limo driver took the idea to Jimmy Page.

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11.)D. In 1966, superfreak Rick James, then known as James Ambrose Johnson, Jr., was the frontman for a band called The Mynah Birds that bizarrely also included Neil Young.

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12.)C. Madonna’s 1986 hit single, “La Isla Bonita,” from the album True Blue was originally written for Michael Jackson.

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13.)C. Shirley Manson of Garbage inducted Blondie into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

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14.)D. After Kurt Cobain’s death, Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl declined an offer to join Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to instead form the Foo Fighters.

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15.)B. Sinead O’Connor once described N.W.A.’s breakthrough first album, Straight Outta Compton, as “the best rap record I’ve ever heard.”

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16.)B. Bruce Springsteen originally wrote "Hungry Heart" for The Ramones.

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17.)C. Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain referenced Freddie Mercury of Queen in his suicide note.

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18.)B. Buddy Holly swapped country music for rock 'n' roll after seeing Elvis Presley perform.

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19.)A. Kylie Minogue teamed up with gothic punk rocker Nick Cave on the murder ballad, "Where the Wild Roses Grow."

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20.)B. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam slow-danced to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards.

Mark Humphrey / AP Photo; AP Photo
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17 + correct: You’re hardcore, dude…you should be writing for Pitchfork or working at an independent record label. 13-17 correct: You know your way around an Amoeba Music or Newbury Comics, record stores that are still cool to be seen in. 10-13 correct: You’d like to see the hot new band at CMJ, but it conflicts with the U2 show at Madison Square Garden. 7-10 correct: You have an iPod filled with songs from your youth that you play at an appropriate volume. 4-7 correct: You watched Flavor of Love and Rock of Love without recognizing the irony. 0-4 correct: You still buy CDs.

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